Automatic message sealing machine



May 18, 1954 l.. G. PoLLARD ET AL 2,678,589

AUTOMATIC MESSAGE SEALING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1951 17 ShetS-Sheet l ATTOR N EY May 18, 1954 l.. G. PoLLARD ET A1.

AUTOMATIC MESSAGE sEALING MACHINE 17 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1951 im. E;

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AUTOMATIC MESSAGE SEALING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1951 17 Sheets-Sheet 3 Il A IN VEN TORS f ATTORNEY 17 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS 1 6. POLLARD 6.a. RIDGE ATTOR NEY May 18, 1954 L. G. POLLARD ETAL AUTOMATIC MESSAGE sEALING MACHINE Filed March 22. 1951 i g; "fi

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AUTOMATIC MESSAGE SEALING MACHINE 17 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Maron 22, 1951 INVENTORS a PoLLARn s. H. RIDGE s. JoHANsoN 441- ATTOR N EY May 18, 1954 Filed March 22, 1951 FIG.9

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AUTOMATIC MESSAGE SEALING MACHINE Filed Maren 22, 1951 17 Sheets-sheet 1o INVENTORS L. c. PoLLA Ro s. H. n DGE, BY l G Jol-IANIsoN ATTORNEY May 18, 1954 G. POLLARD` ETAL 2,678,589

AUTOMATIC MESSAGE SEALING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1951 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 11 F'IG.I6

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17 Sheets-Sham;A 121 apo INVENTORS .G. POLLA RD GM .RIDGE G.JOHANSON ATTOR NEY May 18, 1954 L. G. POLLARD Erm. 2,678,589

AUTOMATIC MESSAGE sEALING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1951 17 Sheets-Sheet 15 FIGT 2o FIG. 23

JNVENTORS l.. G. PoLLARD G. H. RIDGE G. Jou-Anson ATTOR N EY May 18, 1954 L. G. PoLLARD ETAL 2,578,589

" AUTOMATIC MESSAGE sEALINc MACHINE Filed March 22, 1951 1v sheets-sheet 1.4

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AUTOMATIC MESSAGE sEALING MACHINE Filed March 22. 1951 JNVENToRs ARD E ATTORNEY L. G. POLLARD EIAL AUTOMATIC MESSAGE SEALING MACHINE May 18, 1954 17 Sheets-Sheet 16 Filed March 22, 1951 \mNN mmm

INVENTORS L. s. PoLLARu 6.a. n osa BY @.JoHANsoN May 18, 1954 L. G. POLLARD .E1-Al.

AUTOMATIC MESSAGE sEALING MACHINE 17 Sheets-Sheet 17 Filed March 22, 1951 Dumm maSu s MM ...Nv *Y .TAES E ELDA R PRO O MSHA T L GG T A Patented May 18, y1954 AUTOMATIC MESSAGE SEALING MACHINE Leon G. Pollard and Guy H. Ridge, Southampton, N. Y., and George Johanson, Burbank, Calif., assgnors to The Western Union Telegraph Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Y Application March 22, 1951, Serial No. 216,998

Our invention is for a new and improved machine for automaticaly sealing telegrams in such a way that the contents of the message are concealed while the name an-d address remain visible. This automatic sealing mechanism is particularly adapted to be attached as a unit to automatic facsimile recorders from which the received message passes directly into the sealing unit. In the present case, we show this device independently of any recorder, for the sealing mechanism operates in the same way whether the message sheet is fed automatically from a recorder or is inserted by hand, as we shall assume here.

Broa-dly stated, the principle of operation of the name and address are visible.

The mechanism for carrying out the foregoing sequence of steps is operated by two motors.` One motor feeds the inserted sheet downward over curved guide fingers which fold it back part way. The second or sealing motor thereupon operates a pressure plate to hold the folded blank against a die plate, whereupon a set of piercing punches and a set of riveting punches cooperate to seal the folded sheet.

The details of this apparatus are shown in the accompanying drawings which represent a commercial form of our invention as installed in a facsimile recorder for sealing the received messages.

In these drawings Fig. 1 shows a top viewof the machine;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation;

Figs. 3 and 4 show right and left side views respectively;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 represent sectional views taken in the correspondingly numbered section lines 5, BandlofFig. 1; I

Fig. 3 shows the paper feed shaft and the parts mounted thereon; l

Fig. 9 is a rear face view of the punch plate in detached position;

Fig. l is a plan view of the sealing mechanism;

Fig. 11 shows a section on line `II ofFig. 2;

. and produce a self-sealed message in which only r is claims. (c1. ca -1) Fig. 12 shows a detail of Fig. 11 in a diieren position; Y

Fig. 13 is a section on line I3 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 14 shows a sectional view on line I 4 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are views similar to Fig. 14 to show certain parts of the punch mechanism in different positions during the sealing cycle;

Fig. 18 shows an enlargement of the paperpiercing and riveting punches in final position;

Fig. 19 is a transverse section on line I9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 20 is a section on line 20 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 21 isa section online 2| of Fig; 20;

Fig. 22 shows a plan view of the paper feed assembly;

Fig. 23 shows a detail of Fig. 22;

\ Fig. 24 is a section on line 24 of Fig. 22;

Fig. 24A shows a separate view of the feed control cam;

Fig. 25 is a perspective of the guide piece appearing in Fig. 22

Fig. 26 is a section on line 26 of Fig. 251;

Fig. 27 shows a view similar to Fig. 24 with certain operative parts in a different position;

Fig. 28 shows the mechanism in Fig. 22 in paper feeding position;

Fig. 29 presents a detail of Fig. 27 showing various parts in different positions;`

Fig. 30 illustrates a message sheet in lunfolded condition;

\ Fig. 31 shows the sheet as folded and sealed by the machine; I

Fig. 32 represents a section on line 32 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 33 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 32;

Figs. 34, 35 and 36 are transverse sections taken on the correspondingly numbered lines 34, 35 and 36 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 37 is a diagram of the circuits for the feeding and sealing motors; and

Figs. 38 to 41 illustrate in a schematic way the positions of certain cams on the paper feed shaft during different phases of a feed cycle.

The main supporting frame of the machine comprises an upright base or back plate I2 and a pair of side plates I3 and I4 which are secured to the base and extend forward at right angles thereto. The rigid frame formed by the heavy parts I2, I3 and I ll supports all the mechanism of the machine and is attached as a unit to a vertical panel I5 (Figs. 3 and 4). When the machine is used in a facsimile receiver for the automatic sealing of recorded messages, it is mounted below the recording head. Such a receiver is disclosed, for example, in the pending The paper feed mechanism 1' Power is supplied to the paper feed mechanism. by a small non-synchronous motor I6 mounted on the Vertical base l2 by means of a bracket l1 (Figs. 4 and '7) with the shaft extending upward .I

and slightly inclined to the rear. A worm it on the motor shaft meshes with a gear I9 fixed on a shaft 2f) which is journaled -in the sides plates I3 andl4 and extends slightly beyond them (Fig. 8). The projecting ends of shaft 2l) have each a cam 2l keyed thereon. These cams are identical and shaped to have different operative portions on their periphery (Fig. 24A). The angular position of these cams on shaft fit is the same for each. The function of cams 2i is to control certain gear Connections for the paper feed operation, as will be explained in due course.

The feed shaft 2l! carries at the left a half gear 24 which engages a full gear 25 (Fig. 14) for only one-half of each revolution of gear 24. The gear 25 is mounted in front of gear 24 on a shaft 26 which is journaled in the sides plates iii- I4 and extends beyond them, as best shown inV Fig. 7. The gears 24 and 25 are keyed on their respective shafts and always rotated with them. Each end of shaft 2E haslxed thereon a gear 2'? suitably spaced from the adjacent supporting plate I3-l 4 outside thereto. The gears 2l are identical and each belongs to a traint of gears for actuating a paper feed assembly, one at each side of the machine. Since the two paper feed assemblies are alike, the description of oneV will apply to both. Referring to Fig. 22, a pair of' connected gears 28-29 are mounted as a unit on a stud 29! carried by a guide piece or support 33 which is secured to the adjacent side plate 'I3-M by screws 3|. The smaller gear 28 is always in mesh with the large gear 2i, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The guide piece 33, shown separately in Figs.`25 and 26, is a metal block formed with a longitudinal channel 32 at the back and having a front recess 33 open at the rear. rThe back wall of recess r33 has a slot 33' and at the forward end of the block is a half -circle notch 3d. The channel 32 is backed by a sloping wall 35 for a purpose that will presently appear.

In the channel 32 of the stationary guide 353 operates a post or bar 36 (Fig. 22) which is mounted for -slidabie and tiltable movements. The rear or inner end 36 of the post 36 is rounded (Fig. 24) and arranged to be always in contact with the associated cam 2i on the paper feed shaft 20, Whereby'the sliding movements of the post are controlled by that cani. YA. contractile spring. 31 is attached at its front end to a pin 3% and at the other endto a pin 39011 a depending anchor 4G. The spring 3l always tends to pull the post rearward (to the right as viewed inrFig. 3), thereby holding it in pressure contact with the edge of cam 2l.

The anchor 40 is pivoted at its upper end on a pin 4| carried by a lug 42 which projects from the vertical base l2. f The spring 3l tends to rock Vto 5t rotates as a unit on the post the anchor 43 forward (or upward in Figs. V24 and 27) against a stop 43 mounted on a collar 113' of shaft 2li. As this shaft rotates, the spring pulled anchor 43 follows the circular movement of stop 43. The function of the pivoted anchor it is to maintain the tension of spring 3'? substantially constant during the sliding movements of the post 36 under the action of cam 2.

As seen in Figs. 22 and 23, the post carries a cross pin 44 arranged to engage at one end a slotted guide bracket 45 attached by screws t6 to one side of the block 33. The bracket 45 has aY slot i? into which the pin 'i4 projects. rihe lower edge of `slot 4l .is formed by one of the two sloping shoulders i8 Vonblock 3G. These shoulders are cut awayY at the rear to form stops t@ for receiving the pin 44 when the post 33 is held down in paper feeding position (Fig. 2S). We have shown only one guide'bracket t5, but two may be used if desired. Y

At its forward end the postV tsspports a rota crees shaft 59 (Fi .22) which cai at its outer end and'apaperfeed wheel 52 its inner end. Hubs or bushings 53 and 5ft fixed on shaft 53 prevent axial movement of the shaft. Thisgear assembly consistingof the 5d A fiat spring 55 attached to the top of post 3% is in constant pressure contact with the bushing 53 to act as a friction brake for instantly stopping the gear assembly when it is disconnected from the drive shaft 2li.

Referring particularlyto Fig. 24A', the rotary cam 2i which controls the movements of post Se in the guide piece 33 has a low concentric edge 55 extending half way around betweenl therpoints c-b, and a high Vconcentric'edge 5'! which extends over the arm c-d. Between the points d and a (that is, fromhigh to low position) is a concave edge 53 adapted toproduce a sudden drop ofthe post 36 from the high cam-edge onto the low edge 5t. Between the points 'c and d is a convex edge 59 which causes a gradual lifting of theY post 36 from-the low edge-5t to the high edge 51.

Figs. 22 and 24 show the raised position of the post 36 when it rests on the high cam edge 5?.

The spring 3l is so arranged that it tilts the post against the slanting face 35 of the guide piece 30, with the cross pin 44 resting on the sloping shoulders e3. As the cam 2i turns clockwise from the position shown in Fig. 24 to that shown in Fig. 27 (covering an arc of nearlyV 90), the end of post 36 rides downover the* edge of con cave edge 58 and drops almost instantly onto the low concentric edge 55, which'holds the post in clown position for a haif turn of the cam. During the downward movement of post 35 (that is, rearward as viewed from the front of the inachine),V the pin 44 rides over` the slopes'li and lands on the stop shoulders '39, whereby the post assumes the position shown in Fig. 28 to bring the gear 5I into mesh with the' driving gear 29. The half-circle notch 34 in guide piece Sii-receives the bushing 53 to permit the engagement of gears 5I and 29. Y

As the cam 2l turns, the stud lB rocks the anchorV 40 to move the pin 39 in Vunison with the movement of pin 38 on the post 36, so that the pin 44 on the inclined shoulders 48, we provide a safety catch 60 (Figs.` 27 and 29) pivoted on a` stud 6| of` post 36. The cam 2| has a pin 62 arranged to engage the catch 60 which is pressed against the pin by a leaf spring 63 attached to the side of the guide block 35;

When the spring 31 pulls the post 36 down, the safety catch 60 remains non-functional. However, should the post 36 happen to get stuck in its high position when the cam 2| is in the posi tion in Fig. 24, the continued rotation of the cam will bring the pin 62 against the end shoulder Bil of catch 60 (Fig. 29), whereby the post is posi tively coupled to the cam and is pulled down into feeding position as shown in Figs. 27 and 28'. In certain positions of cam 2|, the spring-pressed catch 60 rides idly over the bushing` 43 of the cam (Fig. 27). l l

It will be clear from what has been said that, with the post 36 in thedown position shown in in Figs. 28, the paper feed shaft drives the gears 5| through the meshing gears 24, 25 and 21-28 (Fig. 7) and through gear 29 to gear 5| (Fig. 28). Since the gear 24 on shaft 2|) is a half gear, the feed wheel 52 on post 35 operates for only ahalf of each revolution of shaft 20. The cam 2| and half gear 24 are mounted in such angular relation on shaft 20 thatthe wheels 52 begin to turn almost immediately after the posts 36 are brought down into feeding position and they stop turning just before the cams 2| lift the posts into non-operative position.

When the half gear 24 disengages the full gear 25, it is necessary that the latter remain in position for properre-engagement by the teeth of the half gear. For this purpose, we `provide means for automatically causing the disengaged gear to stop in such position that the advancing teeth of the half gear 24 will move smoothly into register with gear 25. Referring to Figs. 20 and 21, the gear 25 is attached `to the inner side of a disk 64 which is provided with a diametric bevelled groove 65 adapted to receive the conical point of a pin 66 slidably mounted in the adjacent plate I3. A spring leaf 61 constantly urges the pin 66 toward the disk 64. At the end of each half turn when the half gear 24 disengages the gear 25, the pin 66 snaps into the groove 65 and holds the gear 25 in position to register with the half gear at feed shaft 20.

We shall now describe how the two wheels 52 at the sides of the machine feed a deposited sheet 64,\like that shown in Fig. 3f), into position for sealing. At the top of the machine (Fig. 1) there is a long narrow slot 68 through which the sheet is inserted. This slot is formed by a cross bar 69 and a vertical plate III which is bevelled at the top to facilitate the insertion of the sheet (Fig. 14). The cross bar 69 is attached to the front top corners of the side plates |3--l4. In the present machine, the bar 69 rests on little brackets 1| projecting from the plates |3|4 and the ends of the bar are fastened to blocks I2` mounted on top of the plates (Figs.` 3 and 4). Any other practical means may be employed for securing the cross bar `69 rigidly to the `side plates |3-|4.

The vertical plate ll, called the die plate, is attached to the side plates |3-|4by screws l2 and forms a chute 13 (Fig. 14) for the deposited telegram, which rests on a plurality of semi-circular ngers '|4 (in this case live) spaced across the length of the chute (Figs. 1 and 5) Two (or more) curved arms 15 extend into the chute 13 to the next half turn of the r r6 hold the sheet against the Figs. l, 11 and 14.

At each side of plate 'Hl is a hinged gate 76 arranged aslant so asto engage the sides of the entering sheet and guide it toward the plate. As best shown in Fig. 5, each gate 16 is a narrow metal strip provided with a pivot pin ll which is held at its upper end in the bracket H and at its lower end in a separate bracket 13 attached to the adjacent plate |3-I4. A torsion spring 19 coiled about the pivot pin `'i7 normally holds the gate in. closed position, as shown in Figs. 1l and 14. The gates 16 have each a lateral ear (Figs. 3 and 4) by means of which they are swung open when the plate 70 starts moving inward, as will be explained later on.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 22, the die plate 'l5 is formed with a pair of rectangular recesses or notches 8| at its ends, and in each recess is pivotally mounted a small steel roller 32 by means of a shoulder screw 83. The rollers `82 are so arranged that, when the posts `66 are pulled down into operative position, the'feed wheels 52 are brought in line with the rollers 82 and press against the inserted blank 54 (Fig. 28)( The wheels 52 are preferably of steel with a knurled surface to engage the edges of the blank in hrm traction contact. By comparing Figs. 212 and 2S, it will be seen that when the feed wheels 52 are in withdrawn position, they are to one side of the die plate 15, so asto be out of the way when the sealing mechanism comes into operation.

As previously mentioned, when a telegram sheet 64 is inserted into the machine, itrests in its normal at shape on the curvedyngers 14 at the bottom of the chute (Fig. 14). At that time, the feed wheels 52 are withdrawn. When the two posts 36 are pulled down (that is, rearward as shown in Figs. 3 and 4) by the operation of the two cams 2|, the wheels 52 move into contact with the sideedges of the paper and push the sheet` down over the curved fingers M. These fingers guide the moving sheet smoothly `into, open fold of U-formation, as shown in. Fig. i5.

plate 10, as seen in The upper edgelid' of thefold is at such a dis1 tance from the top edge of the sheet that the fold completely covers the message area 64b while the address remains exposed above the fold.

With the paper positioned in open Uformation, it is ready for sealing andthe feed mechanism automatically stops. This is brought about by a `cam 84 fixed on shaft 2i! and adapted to operate a microswitch 85 (Fig.,35) mounted on the base I2 by means of a bracket 36. This bracket is preferably adjustable vertically on the base by a slot-and-screw connection 8'! or otherwise (Fig. 7). The cam 816 has an arcuate recess 88 and is arrangedto operate an arm es of switch 85, this arm being constantly pressed against the cam by a spring inside the switch.

The circuits controlled by switch 25 will explained in the description of the `circuit diagram in Fig. 37, and at this time weneed only mention that the feed motor I6 operatesduring the interval that the switch arm 8B rides over the high rim of cain 84. Whenthe switch arm 89 drops into the recess 88, which occurs at the close of a paper feed cycle, the motor lli stops after a second or two and the sealing mechanism automatically comes into operation This will be fully understood when we come to 37.

The sealing` mechanism Referring to Figs. 3, `4 and 7, there is a second motor 90, called the sealing motor, mounted on 

